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Date Posted: 19:50:10 05/03/02 Fri
Author: Lafaux
Subject: Bill Clinton: "The Next Oprah"?

by Mark Armstrong

May 2, 2002, 10:00 AM PT
Break out the saxophone, Bubba: Former President Bill Clinton is talking to TV executives about hosting his own talk show.
Despite previously brushing off talk of a new career on the tube, Clinton met Wednesday with NBC execs in Los Angeles about a possible show, the Los Angeles Times reports. The paper quotes television sources who say Clinton is serious about the idea--so serious, in fact, that he dreams "of becoming the next Oprah Winfrey."
His asking price? A whopping $50 million a year.
A Clinton spokeswoman told the Associated Press Thursday that the former president has met with several people about projects, but "President Clinton did not demand a talk show," she said. "He went to listen. The president is gratified by the range of opportunities that have been presented to him."
There's no telling just how serious Clinton is about jumping into television. The Times reports that Wednesday's talks were only preliminary (Clinton was in town for a Democratic fundraiser), and some sources expressed skepticism Clinton would commit to a full-time hosting gig once he finds out how much time is involved.
According to the paper, Clinton is not interested in a political talk show. After all, there could be too many conflict-of-interest issues involving his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Whatever he decides, a $50-million paycheck would be enough to make even Katie Couric blush. But it wouldn't be out of line with what Clinton has been making since leaving the White House.
The former president is reportedly earning $15 million a year doing speeches (at $125,000 to $300,000 a pop), and he also recently scored a $12-million book deal with Alfred A. Knopf, one of the largest in history.
A talk show would certainly be unprecedented for a former president. Maybe it was his legendary sax-playing appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show, but talk of a TV career has followed Clinton since even before he left office.
Thursday's Times report follows recent rumors that CBS was also courting Clinton, possibly even for a role on The Early Show. But network honcho Les Moonves quickly dismissed the talk. "Why would he do it?" Moonves said.
If this all sounds eerily familiar, it should. Back in December 2000, the Drudge Report spawned a media frenzy when it claimed Clinton pals and former Designing Women producers Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason pitched a Clinton show to NBC, an interview program "in the great tradition of David Frost."
The network later claimed it was the other way around--that NBC presented the idea to Clinton.
"Neither Linda nor I have ever held a pitch meeting with NBC or anybody else about the services of the president," Harry Thomason told the Washington Post. "We're too busy concentrating on our pilot with [chef] Emeril Lagasse to worry about the president's next job."
Thursday's Times once again reports that, if a Clinton talk show does happen, the Thomasons would likely be involved in producing it.
Either way, Clinton can only hope he'll fare better than Emeril.
by Josh Grossberg
May 03, 2002, 02:45 PM PT

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Replies:

[> CC and dd, This one's for you! -- Lafaux, 22:36:21 05/04/02 Sat


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[> Oh good Lord! I'll have to give her a call so she knows to come look. (she's almost never on-line anymore). I can hear Bill now "Crank it up a notch!" -- ladyday, 22:54:11 05/04/02 Sat


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[> I actually have little to say. -- CC, 17:15:47 05/06/02 Mon

I am not surprised. I actually do not bitch about him much, since that has been done to death ten times over. It is just that I think it is rather undignified for a former U.S. leader to do, get up on stage and talk about sex and stuff all the time. It would just feel kind of icky, hearing your former president talk about sex. Itis kind of feels like hearing your parents talk about it. It was icky enough to hear about my president's sex life. I heard the democrats are rather horrified.


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[> [> Totally agree on this, CC. Ick is right. imo, he's a really good speaker, but I wouldn't be able to take women in the audience gushing over him. I can take him talking politics, but personal stuff.........RALPH. We already know too much about him. -- Tf, 17:08:16 05/07/02 Tue

>I am not surprised. I actually do not bitch about him
>much, since that has been done to death ten times
>over. It is just that I think it is rather undignified
>for a former U.S. leader to do, get up on stage and
>talk about sex and stuff all the time. It would just
>feel kind of icky, hearing your former president talk
>about sex. Itis kind of feels like hearing your
>parents talk about it. It was icky enough to hear
>about my president's sex life. I heard the democrats
>are rather horrified.


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[> [> [> Well, I agree with you both, but I expected at least to see a good "Bubba" joke. -- Lafaux, 17:56:10 05/07/02 Tue


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[> Re: Bill Clinton: "The Next Oprah"? Oh goodie clickie -- dd(knows he has turned it down), 20:48:37 05/10/02 Fri

I was watching and hoping in glee Bubba would have done the show...

I was ready to see the new Jerry...

It would have all been about his exploits...I would have loved it.

But alas Bubba realized what it would have become. Darn no fun for me...


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[> [> Come on, dd! Is this your best shot? -- Lafaux, 21:30:20 05/10/02 Fri


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[> [> [> Honest I really wanted him to got for it..You know we all need another Jerry or Jenny.... -- dd, 23:34:40 05/11/02 Sat


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[> I don't think he will do it but if he does I'm tuning in. -- Patricia, 05:33:32 05/12/02 Sun


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[> [> You know what, Patricia! If somebody made him the offer, it's because they know a whole lot of people will be tuning in. I'd have to check it out myself. -- Lafaux, 06:44:26 05/12/02 Sun


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